FTC Hires Anti-Musk Activist Amid Agency’s Investigation of Twitter

Sarah Miller, FTC new hire, highlights close relationship between FTC und left-wing advocacy group that objected at Musk’s Twitter Takeover

As the Federal Trade Commission intensifies its investigation into Twitter’s security practices, an antitrust activist has joined the Federal Trade Commission as a special advisor.

Sarah Miller, who founded the American Economic Liberties Project (FTC), will serve as special advisor to Lina Kan, FTC chair Lina Khan. Lina Khan was a Biden appointee whom Republicans accuse of having been a communist. “weaponizing” The agency.

Miller asked for the Federal Communications Commission to investigate Musk’s October purchase Twitter. According to Miller, his business ties are with China. “concerning.”

According to reports, the FTC wants Musk deposed and records of Musk’s correspondence with journalists. This is part of its probe into recent layoffs and data protection policies for Twitter.

Miller’s hire also highlights the close relationship of the FTC with left-wing advocacy organizations. Many of these groups objected at Musk’s Twitter takeover. They also resisted his promise to lift speech restrictions that were used by the company to target conservatives. House Republicans raised concerns about the FTC’s Twitter probe. “result of partisan pressure to target Twitter and silence Musk.”

A spokesperson for the FTC told the Washington Free Beacon Miller’s hiring has nothing to do with Twitter. She will “take no part whatsoever in the investigation of Twitter’s possible violations of its consent order or any other investigation the FTC conducts.”

“It should surprise absolutely no one that a Biden appointee would hire a former Obama administration Treasury official who shares similar views of the vital role that robust antitrust enforcement plays in protecting consumers and ensuring fair competition in the American economy,” According to the spokesperson.

After Musk laid off large numbers of employees, the FTC is now investigating whether Twitter is following data protection regulations. House Republicans claim that the probe has become a fishing expedition. “aggressive campaign to harass Twitter and deluge it with demands about its personnel decisions.”

Rep. Darrell Issa, R., Calif., is a member on the House select panel that released a Report criticizing the FTC investigation this week, said Khan—also a former antitrust activist—has “weaponized” The agency.

“Lina Khan is the most dangerous regulator far too many don’t know about, and her weaponized FTC is obviously assembling an enemies list to suffer the abuse of its power,” Issa stated the Washington Free Beacon. “That’s what Elon Musk is finding out, and he won’t be the last. There’s no way our committee can just look away and not deal with this.”

Miller created the American Economic Liberties Project with funding from Pierre Omidyar (ebay founder), in 2020. Bankrolled Other organizations are also involved in the anti-Musk pressure campaigns.

The AELP lobbied In October, the Biden administration began investigating Musk’s purchase of Twitter and Starlink. Miller stated that Musk’s purchase was legal. “not raise antitrust concerns” The FTC. She claimed that the acquisition presented security risks that warranted additional federal investigations.

“Elon Musk’s potential dependencies on the Chinese government are concerning, and the Committee on Foreign Investment in the U.S. should investigate his takeover of Twitter,” Miller stated this in a statement released by AELP. “As should the Federal Communication Commission, considering Musk’s control of Starlink’s satellite internet service.”

Twitter received a list from the FTC with over 350 requests. It was all in three months following Musk’s acquisition. “relating to Elon Musk,” Details about the company’s journalists contacts and information on particular personnel decisions according to the House Committee on the Judiciary, and the Select Subcommittee on the Warirization of the Federal Government.

The committee reported Tuesday that the FTC investigation had been driven by a “persistent, fever-pitched pressure campaign by left-wing activists and Democrats.”

Open Markets Institute is one of the most prominent anti-Musk pressure organizations cited in this report. Khan was the director of legal policy and Miller was the deputy director.

OMI has repeatedly urged federal agencies to take steps against Musk. OMI urged the FTC to reject the Twitter acquisition in October. “poses a number of immediate and direct threats to American democracy, free speech, and national security.” Omidyar’s foundation Donated According to OMI’s website, at least $100,000 to OMI